What is the current outlook for the photovoltaic industry?
Hype and Disenchantment
After the boom of 2010, the economic downturn in the photovoltaic sector in 2011 has been all the more brutal. Has the sun set on the PV era? No. This industry is merely going through the usual structural changes common to practically all industries – but at breakneck pace. Seen in the longer term, the future belongs to the solar industry. Let me present a brief analysis. more...
Solarbuzz Asia Pacific Major PV Markets Quarterly Report
Tremendous Increase in PV Market in Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific photovoltaic (PV) markets continue to surge ahead of expectations, installing 2.8 GW in Q4’11 and a total of 6 GW in FY’11. According to Solarbuzz the region as a whole grew 165% Y/Y, and is forecast to grow an additional 40% in 2012. more...
Fourth Quarter Results
Conergy Defies Module Price Decline
Despite module prices drop over 40 % in 2010 German single source solar provider Conergy, Hamburg, achieved group sales off € 755 million which is in line with the communicated company guidance more...
High Efficiency Solar Technology
DuPont Collaborates with Yingli
DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions and Yingli Green Energy Holding one of the world’s largest vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturers, are collaborating to advance technology for higher efficiency solar cells, new module manufacturing processes and innovative component designs. more...
Q-Cells Marks new World Record
18,5 Percent Cell Efficiency With Multi-Crystalline Modules
Q-Cells SE has set two new world records for multi-crystalline solar modules. The independent calibration laboratory of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg confirmed the module efficiency of 18.5 per cent in reference to the aperture area for a module with 60 multicrystalline solar cells. more...
PV Module Prices
7% Increase in December, 4% Decrease Expected in January
PV module prices increased by 7% in December 2011 due to a temporary pick-up in demand ahead of FiT reductions in a number of key markets according to the latest monthly pricing report from IMS Research. more...
Nrel confirms 14.4 Percent Efficiency of FirstSolar´s Cadmium Telluride Modules
New Efficiency Record for CdTe-Modules
First Solar has set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar module efficiency, achieving 14.4 percent total area efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) confirmed the record, which eclipsed the prior record of 13.4 percent. more...
Chinese module manufacturer opens French subsidiary and office in Montpellier, France
Jinko Solar Expands into France
Jinko Solar, a vertically integrated solar power product manufacturer based in China, announced the incorporation of its French subsidiary JinkoSolar S.A.S. and the opening of its French office in Montpellier. The new location will support local partners and complement the growth of the region’s solar industry. more...
Concentration on fast-growing module and project business
Schott Solar Closes Down Wafer Manufacturing Site
German Schott Solar AG is continuing with its realignment efforts and will close down its wafer manufacturing activities at its site in Jena. The company announced that they will be concentrating on its fast-growing module and project business. more...
Automatic Identification Assures Greater Reliability
Traceability for Control
Photovoltaic manufacturers place high demands on the traceability of their solar modules. Intelligent identification systems ensure reliable detection of the product ID or batch number. They reduce the risk of manufacturing defects while at the same time meeting the demand of maximum possible production reliability. more...
Fast Junction Box Connection Technology for Automated Production Process
Designed for Automation
Junction box assembly is one of the last process-relevant steps in photovoltaic module produc-tion and essentially defines the interface between module and PV system. A new connection technology is especially designed for production lines with a high level of automation. more...
Singulus Machines Key Components
Avancis Starts 100 MWp CIS Production
Avancis, manufacturer of CIS solar modules, has commenced the production in its second factory at the company headquarters in Torgau, Germany. more...
Collaboration Between DuPont and Bürkle doubles Module Output
Faster Encapsulation
DuPont Photovoltaic Encapsulants and Bürkle North America, Inc. have worked together to speed up module lamination. Using new DuPont PV5400 Series encapsulant, an Ypsator laminator can produce up to twice as many glass/glass solar modules per hour versus traditional laminators. more...
Automation of Soldering
No Energy Wasted
In order to economically manufacture customer-specific machines, Somont, a manufacturer of stringer soldering machines, relies on modular automation systems and rail-mounted terminal blocks for connection technology. more...
Linear drive technology with laser sensor system and safety engineering
Knowing User Demands
Effectively quality testing can be accomplished by well-conceived integration of quality control into the production process. In addition to testing expertise and the appropriate inspection technology, such a step also requires reliable and dynamic materials handling engineering. more...
Robot-manufactured cells for the photovoltaic industry
Fast and Precise – with Due Care
Handling of thin silicon wafers before and after the wet bench is performed by robots. Here the requirements are clearly defined: the shortest possible cycle times with the lowest possible rate of breakage – a balancing act that can only be accomplished using automation at the very highest level. more...
Sealing and bonding benefits
Assembly of Thin Film Modules with New Back End Processes
Production costs of thin film modules can be further reduced by introducing new back-end processes. To find the optimum contacting solution, the pros and cons of each technology must be compared together with their suitability for the different connections in a thin film module, keeping the whole current path in mind. It is also important to determine which contacting technology works well to gain an expressive cost comparison of different processes. more...
Partially automated production line
Flexibility Counts
The façades of buildings are ideal photovoltaic surfaces. To make sure that customer wishes are met with regard to color and form, PV Products has invested in a production line which enables crystalline glass-film and glass-glass modules to be manufactured cost-effectively in just about any color or format. more...
Interdigitated Back-Contact Silicon Solar Cells
Above 23% Efficiency
Imec together with its silicon photovoltaic industrial affiliation program partners Schott Solar, Total, Photovoltech, GDF-SUEZ, Solland Solar, Kaneka and Dow Corning, have demonstrated an conversion efficiency of 23.3% on interdigitated back-contact (IBC) silicon solar cells. more...
GCL-Poly to Boost Polysilicon Production
Polysilicon Counterculture
GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. is raising $ 236m to increase polysilicon production capacity amid a global surplus and against a background of plummeting prices for this key material. more...
Panasonic to Produce Solar Wafers, Cells, and Modules in Malaysia
Greater Cost-competitiveness in Global Market
Panasonic Corporation is poised to establish a company in Malaysia that will serve as its new solar manufacturing base. Panasonic Energy Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., to be set up in December 2011, will operate a vertically-integrated solar manufacturing facility producing from wafers to cells and modules. more...